Following LASIK surgery, it's crucial to remember that your eyes are in a healing phase, and you need to take extra care to ensure they heal correctly. Your eyes will be most sensitive in the first 24 hours after LASIK because they are still mending. Because of this, it's advisable to wait at least 24 hours before using your smartphone.
Using your smartphone shortly after the treatment might cause your eyes to strain, and that may significantly impair the healing process. Keeping eyes away from the screen will prevent them from straining, growing fatigued, and drying out. After the first 24 hours, your eyes should be robust enough to endure a little screen time.
Table of Contents:
● Are A 24 Hours Wait For Effective?
● What Is The 20-20-20 Rule?
● How Long Do You Need To Wait?
● What Are The Risks Of Screen Time?
● What Affects The Timeline For Healing?
● How To Take Care Of Your Vision Before And After LASIK?
Are A 24 Hours Wait For Effective?
Even after the first 24 hours after LASIK, you should take it easy while staring at electronic gadgets. You are still healing, so it's a good idea to avoid spending hours perusing social media. Instead, use your phone for a few minutes at a time during the day and evaluate how your eyes feel. If you're detecting any pain or straining, take a break and allow your eyes to rest.
What Is The 20-20-20 Rule?
You may also follow the 20-20-20 rule. This guideline indicates that for every 20 minutes of screen usage, you should gaze at something that's around 20 feet away for about 20 seconds. This helps avoid straining and guarantees complete recovery after your LASIK operation.
It's also crucial to keep your eyes hydrated and lubricated while you recuperate after LASIK. When you gaze at a screen for a longer amount of time, your eyes don't blink as frequently as they should. Because of this, your eyes might strain, feel inflamed, and dry out. Blinking regularly and applying moisturizing eye drops might help keep your eyes hydrated.
How Long Do You Need To Wait?
When using a smartphone, you may have more eye strain than usual since you do not blink as much when focused on the screen as you typically would. This might cause your eyes to dry out.
For the first week or two following LASIK, keep your eye drops ready and used generously while in front of the computer. Try to employ the 20-20-20 rule as well. Apply eye drops at this moment too. This might give your eyes a chance to rest a little before returning to the screen. In general, the American Refractive Surgery Council recommends that you mainly return to regular activities approximately 24 hours following a LASIK treatment (know more:
https://visualaidscentre.com/lasik-eye-surgery-in-delhi/). However, you may want to limit screen time for a little longer.
What Are The Risks Of Screen Time?
If you’re using a smartphone, too soon after LASIK, you may be going to dry your eyes out even more. LASIK surgery causes your eyes to cease generating as many tears as they typically do, and reduced tear production leads to dry eyes. This may remain for up to six months after a LASIK operation. Consequently, it is vital to use eye drops periodically to maintain the eyes moist to avoid irritation.
Another possible hazard of screen usage too soon after LASIK is the possibility of eye strain. Your eyes are likely sensitive during the first 24 hours following LASIK. Straining them too quickly by watching TV or gazing at screens might adversely affect the healing process, meaning it will take longer for you to recuperate.
Sensitivity to light following LASIK is typical, as are visual abnormalities such as halos or starbursts near lights for a few days after surgery. These visual effects may create sensations of dizziness, nausea, or headaches. These adverse effects normally decrease in a few days, but if you continue to expose yourself to potentially dangerous lights in the form of displays, they may stay for longer. Your eyes will require time to adapt to their new normal following LASIK. Again, it is preferable to wait at least one to two days following the surgery before spending time in front of a screen again.
What Affects The Timeline For Healing?
It would help if you waited a while before returning to screen time after LASIK because of various factors.
● Kind of refractive eye surgery
● Extensive procedure
● Personal well-being and rehabilitation
● Treatment for the ailment
There are a variety of methods for correcting vision. One of the most common methods for correcting vision problems is LASIK or laser-assisted in-situ corneal surgery, which involves cutting a flap in the outer layer of corneal tissue, shaving down, and reshaping the underside of that tissue, and then replacing it. This procedure can be completed without the need for a hospital stay. Nearsightedness, astigmatism, and hyperopia can all be treated with it (farsightedness). Depending on the severity of myopia, more corneal tissue may need to be removed during surgery. As a result, the healing process may take a little longer, and it may be best to refrain from looking at screens for a few days.
Even less invasive than LASIK surgery is PRK (photorefractive keratectomy), a procedure that uses a laser to remove corneal tissue. You might be able to get back to your screens sooner if they have a shorter healing time.
How To Take Care Of Your Vision Before And After LASIK?
To develop a personalized rehabilitation plan tailored to your unique needs and circumstances, consult with your surgeon and ophthalmologist. To get the greatest outcomes after LASIK, it is essential to follow all post-surgical instructions and take good care of your eyes (contact eyes specialist here:
Visual Aids Centre).
Make sure you stick to the strategy you've been given. Stay away from pools and hot tubs, keep lotions and makeup off your face, and avoid contact sports and vigorous activity for at least three days following LASIK surgery. Being in the sun while watching TV, using a tablet, or playing a video game is also a bad idea. For the greatest results, allow your eyes to recover.
